Tutong to stage boat race, culinary challenge as part of Brunei December FestivalTourism Board calls on all to sign up for the contests

Tutong will be organising three events from December 9 to 10 to highlight the district’s unique culture and traditions in conjunction with the first Brunei December Festival.

Perabang Lema, which translates from “night run” in the Tutong dialect, will take place on December 9 in Tutong town, while the Nyirik Culinary Challenge will be held at Tamu Tutong on December 10.

There will also be a boat race open to both local and international participants, which will take place at the Tutong Waterfront on December 10.

The events are part of the Brunei December Festival, a month-long event spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MPRT) to get locals to “stay and spend” in the country this December. There are more than 30 events lined up for the festival.

Nazmi Textile Mall and Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd will be the two main sponsors for the Tutong line-up, and on Thursday handed over sponsorship to MPRT deputy permanent secretary Wardi Haji Mohammad Ali.

Kingston will be providing isotonic drinks for the night run and boat race, while Nazmi will be sponsoring the boat race and culinary challenge events.

The “Perabang Lema” or night run is organised by Eko Kampung and supported by the Brunei Darussalam Athletics Federation, Brunei Tourism Board and Sinar Tour & Travel. Participants stand a chance to win cash prizes and will also be eligible for a lucky draw prize — a return ticket to Seoul, South Korea.

There are three categories: 5KM open category for runners aged 18 years and above; 5KM veteran category for 45 years and above; and a senior category for runners aged 65 and above.

The registration fee for the open and veteran categories is $35 and for the senior category is $30.

Alongside the night run, there is also a 3KM family fun run for children and their parents. The fee is $40 for two adults, with free admission for children. The last date to register for all the races is November 28.

The Nyirik Culinary Challenge is a nationwide cooking competition that will focus on Brunei’s traditional kuih (cakes). The challenge will take place in all four districts, beginning in Tutong.

The challenge will move to Temburong on December 16, followed by Belait on December 23 and Brunei-Muara on December 30. Participants can contact Siti Kaprawi at 8218853 and Eyon Ukoi at 8913811 for more information.

For the Tutong Boat Race, 12 teams have already signed up for the contest. The categories are: 20 rowers open category (500m); and 20 rowers open category (1500m). The event is a collaboration between the Tourism Development Department, Tutong District Office, and the Tutong Municipal Board.

Chairman for the event, Shahri Hj Zunaidi, said the number of teams is expected to increase as registration only closes at the end of the month.

For more information on the Brunei December Festival, visit the official website.